Brown fat activation mediates cold-induced thermogenesis in adult humans in response to a mild decrease in ambient temperature.

CONTEXT

The contribution of brown adipose tissue (BAT) to the energy balance in humans exposed to sustainable cold has not been completely established, partially because of measurement limitations of both BAT activity and energy expenditure (EE).

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to characterize the role of BAT activation in cold-induced thermogenesis (CIT).

DESIGN

This study was a single-blind, randomized crossover intervention.

SETTING

The study was conducted at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.

STUDY PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-one healthy volunteers participated in the study.

INTERVENTIONS

The intervention included mild cold exposure.

MAIN OUTCOMES

CIT and BAT activation were the main outcomes in this study.

METHODS

Overnight EE measurement by whole-room indirect calorimeter at 24 °C or 19 °C was followed by 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (PET) scan. After 36 hours, volunteers crossed over to the alternate study temperature under identical conditions. BAT activity was measured in a 3-dimensional region of interest in the upper torso by comparing the uptake at the two temperatures.

RESULTS

Twenty-four volunteers (14 males, 10 females) had a complete data set. When compared with 24 °C, exposure at 19 °C resulted in increased EE (5.3 ± 5.9%, P < .001), indicating CIT response and mean BAT activity (10.5 ± 11.1%, P < .001). Multiple regression analysis indicated that a difference in BAT activity (P < .001), age (P = .01), and gender (P = .037) were independent contributors to individual variability of CIT.

CONCLUSIONS

A small reduction in ambient temperature, within the range of climate-controlled buildings, is sufficient to increase human BAT activity, which correlates with individual CIT response. This study uncovers for the first time a spectrum of BAT activation among healthy adults during mild cold exposure not previously recognized by conventional PET and PET-computed tomography methods. The enhancement of cold-induced BAT stimulation may represent a novel environmental strategy in obesity treatment.